Britannica Sources used in this answer

How do sharks hear low-frequency sounds?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Shortfin mako shark swimming in clear blue water near the surface off the West Coast of New Zealand, mouth slightly open showing teeth. — shark Shortfin mako shark (*Isurus oxyrinchus*), found throughout tropical and temperate seas worldwide.

Sharks detect low-frequency sounds and vibrations through two primary mechanisms: the lateral line system and the macular organs located within the inner ear.12

The lateral line system consists of a network of sensory organs called neuromasts arranged along the shark's head and body. These sensors contain hair cells that respond to water displacement, pressure changes, and vibrations, allowing the shark to perceive the movement of nearby prey or other objects.314

Additionally, sharks possess an auditory apparatus within the cranium that includes macular organs. While sharks lack the specialized auditory papillae found in some other vertebrates, these macular organs, along with the lateral-line apparatus, enable them to be remarkably sensitive to low-frequency sounds and provide them with an extraordinary capacity for directional hearing.12